From l.: Christian S. Reyes, Quessy Acevedo, Jasely Alvarez and Salvador Santiago
LYNDHURST –
Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a Mahwah resident in Lyndhurst 10 days ago, police said.
Det. Capt. John Valente of Lyndhurst PD said the episode began at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, when Lyndhurst PD was notified by Wayne PD about a possible abduction or assault that may have happened earlier in the day at a Lyndhurst residence on Valley Brook Ave.
Wayne PD told the LPD that, at about 3:20 p.m., they got a report of an aggressive driver traveling on Rt. 23 in their jurisdiction and, upon investigation, they found one vehicle on the side of the highway and, inside another car in a nearby parking lot, they discovered a 22-year-old man from Mahwah who had bruises above his eyes and a swollen jaw.
The officers also detected an injury to the Mahwah man’s tongue which they found consistent with the man’s claim that one of his alleged assail ants had burned his tongue with a lit cigarette.
Valente said the victim told Lyndhurst PD detectives that he had been kidnapped and assaulted by a man he identified as Christian S. Reyes after Reyes learned that the victim had reportedly planned to burglarize Reyes’ apartment. Reyes, the victim told cops, then allegedly bound his hands and feet with duct tape and used an electrical cord to tie him to a chair. Then, the victim alleged, he had his head and eyebrows shaved with a razor and his hair cut off with a knife before being placed into Reyes’ vehicle at gunpoint where he was ordered to text his alleged would-be burglary accomplice to come to Lyndhurst and pick him up where the friend would be assaulted as well.
When the victim’s friend showed up soon afterward, police said he immediately fled after seeing Reyes’ vehicle and turned out to be the driver of the vehicle stopped on Rt. 23 and the caller who notified Wayne PD about the “aggressive driver” chasing him.
Valente said that based on information developed by investigators, police believe two of the suspects – Quessy Acevedo and Jasely Alvarez – took part in the assault on the victim. Investigators believe Acevedo hit the victim in the face while Reyes, at one point, held a gun to the victim’s neck. Police said Alvarez burned the victim’s tongue and threatened him with a knife which he used to cut off his hair. Acevedo and Alvarez then reportedly used a razor to shave his head, police said.
Valente said the investigation was conducted by Det. Michael Lemanowicz with help from Dets. Vincent Auteri and Ronald Guirland, who conducted interviews and applied for search warrants executed on the Valley Brook Ave. home and vehicle involved.
Also credited with aiding the investigation were: the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Sheriff’s Department BCI Unit, Union City PD and Wayne PD.
The four suspects are: Christian Reyes, 24, of Lyndhurst; Quessy Acevedo, 21, of Avenel; Jasely Alvarez, 21, of East Rutherford; and Salvador J. Santiago, 25, of Union City. Reyes, Acevedo and Alvarez were arrested and charged on Nov. 9; Santiago, on Nov. 10.
All four are charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and criminal restraint. Reyes is also charged with possession of a weapon, certain persons not to have weapons and terroristic threats; Acevedo is additionally charged with terroristic threats; Alvarez is also charged with possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose; and Santiago is also charged with terroristic threats, hindering and evidence tampering.
All are being held at the Bergen County Jail on bail pending court action. Bail for Reyes and Santiago was set at $500,000, no 10% cash option; bail for Acevedo and Alvarez was fixed at $400,000, no cash option.
– Ron Leir
